A population's ancestral background may affect how omega-6 fatty acids are processed and used by the body, according to a 2011 study funded in part by NCCAM. Omega-6 fatty acids—also known as n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)—are important for maintaining proper cellular function in the human body and, in particular, play a role in immunity and inflammation. Omega-6 fatty acids, found in foods such as margarine and vegetable oils, differ from omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fatty fish.
Source: http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/053011.htm?nav=rss